Reps. McDermott and Petri Re-introduce
Salmon Planning Act
For Immediate Release - March 3, 2003

Washington, DC - U.S. Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Tom Petri (R-WI) reintroduced legislation today designed to restore and protect salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest.

The Salmon Planning Act authorizes funds and establishes a preparatory framework for salmon restoration in the event that current actions prove ineffective. The National Marine Fisheries Service has suggested several measures to protect salmon and steelhead, but the Federal government has thus far failed to provide adequate funds to implement those measures.

"The Federal government has not yet taken salmon recovery seriously," said McDermott. "It's time to take aggressive action and passing this bill will be a good start."

If the Salmon Planning Act becomes law, it will authorize funds for studies by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the General Accounting Office (GAO). The NAS study would determine the effectiveness of current and anticipated Federal salmon recovery actions, and the GAO study analyzes the potential effects of partial removal of the four Lower Snake River dams.

Among the consequences the GAO must consider are the economic effects of dam removal on local communities, effects on transportation, irrigation, and energy production, and economic effects of the potential extinction of salmon and steelhead.

The bill also provides Congressional authorization for dam removal if it is deemed necessary by the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Interior, or the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

"These are essential steps in protecting our endangered salmon," said McDermott.

The bill was originally introduced in the 107th Congress, where it was cosponsored by 89 Members of Congress.